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City in Iowa, United States
Photo: JoeyBLS at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Dubuque, founded in 1833, is the oldest city in Iowa. A port on the upper Mississippi River, it is situated along scenic bluffs facing the river, and has its roots in a mining and trading settlement established in the area by Quebec-born entrepreneur Julien Dubuque in 1788. The city's population is 57,686 (2000 Census), and the estimated population of the Dubuque metropolitan area is 93,072.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
At the base of the 4th Street Elevator. Contains many historic Victorian-era buildings housing coffee shops, restaurants, and specialty shops. Centered on 4th and Bluff Streets.
Limestone cavern discovered by early lead miners.
52-acre (21 ha) garden with emphasis on irises, dahlias, lilies, dwarf and unusual conifers; rose and herb gardens.
Four separate galleries featuring regional and national art.
Historic cable-car ride from Dubuque's river level to top of bluff.
Considered one of baseball's most-treasured landmarks. The field is the same used in the film Field of Dreams, nominated by the Academy Awards for Best Film of the Year of 1989. The film, based upon W.P. Kinsella's book Shoeless Joe, starred Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones. At the time of filming, the field straddled two farms, with most of the field owned by one family but left and center field owned by another. Both families opened up separate tourist attractions, causing much controversy for years. Eventually, they made peace, with the owners of left and center field selling their slice of the movie site to the other family. Various events, including baseball and softball games, take place on the field at various times during the year. Approximately 200 mi (322 km) NE of Des Moines via I-80 and US Hwy 20. About 500 feet (150 m) away on a separate property is a ballpark that Major League Baseball built in 2021 to host a regular-season game marketed as MLB at Field of Dreams. The 2021 game drew the highest TV ratings for any regular-season game in at least 15 years, leading MLB to make it an annual event. With that ballpark seating far fewer spectators than normal MLB parks, tickets for the 2021 game were sold via a lottery system open only to Iowa residents.
Hosts the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, the Dubuque Fighting Saints professional hockey, and various touring theater productions.
Dubuque's oldest theater, built in 1890 and restored, hosts community theater productions including plays, musicals, and ballets. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a Richardson Romanesque architectural style. Coordinates with several downtown restaurants for dinner/theater specials.
Port of Dubuque. Convention center along the Mississippi containing 115,000 square feet of room for meetings, conventions, and other social functions. Connected by skywalk to the Grand Harbor Resort & Waterpark.
Preserved Italianate mansion of early river baron, with period furnishings.
Nature trails and an interpretive center.
30,000 toy tractors and other farm toys, in Dyersville.
Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and owned by the Dubuque County Historical Society, the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium features six aquariums and the history of the Mississippi River. It is the only museum along the entire length of the river solely devoted to its history.
Bankston, IA; Built in 2001, the Park Farm Winery is 17 miles west of Dubuque in the rolling hills of northeast Iowa. It features a chateau and several award-winning wines.
Port of Dubuque. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Shot Tower is one of the last standing such towers in the country. It stands 120 ft 5 in from base to peak, and is a recognized symbol of the city. It is undergoing renovations and is part of the city's master plan to revitalize the harbor area.
Yacht cruises on the Mississippi River, featuring happy hour and sunset dinner cruises. Also arrange wedding and event cruises.
Galena, IL. South of Dubuque on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi. Nineteen runs and seven-acre terrain park. 450 foot vertical drop. Open during summer months with mountain biking, miniature golf, nature trails, and alpine slide.
At the Port of Dubuque.
Iowa's first indoor waterpark resort contains 25,000 square feet of Mississippi-themed indoor water activities.
A collection of nine vineyards in the Tri-State area (3 in Iowa, 3 in Illinois, and 3 in Wisconsin), promoted as a weekend destination for regional and international wine lovers. Each winery is located within 50 miles of the Mississippi, and tours are organized between the various locations. Individuals visiting and tasting at each winery turn in bottle stickers from each to receive a free t-shirt commemorating their accomplishment.
Scenic 26-mi (42 km) bike/snowmobile trail from Dubuque to Dyersville, built on old Chicago Great Western railroad bed.
formerly Mystique Casino
Slots, table games, and sports book.
Asbury, Ski resort just west of Dubuque, overlooking Driftless Area. Twenty-one trails, 2 terrain parks, and 475 feet of vertical drop. Live music on weekends at the North Lounge.
Peosta, IA; Interpretive center, hiking trails, trout fishing, and 4 miles of cross country skiing spread out over its 476 acres.
Kieler, WI; 9-hole course located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, 2 miles north of Dubuque.
18 holes.
9-hole par-3 course, also includes mini-golf course.
Private club.
Galena, IL; Four award-winning courses on 68,000 acres.
East Dubuque, IL; 45 holes of golf, including the championship Blue Course.
Asbury, IA; Voted best course in the Tri-State 2003-2008 and given a four-star rating by Golf Digest.
Peosta, IA; Full-service country club.
Peosta, IA; 18 holes.
Black Horse Inn, Sherrill, IA, a few miles north of Dubuque. 3rd annual event featuring wines from the Upper Mississippi region, tastings, food, amateur winemaker's competition, live music, and the "People's Choice Award" for best wine at the fest.
RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Race Across Iowa) is one of the nation's longest-running cross-state bike rides.
A few miles northwest of Dubuque in Balltown. Iowa's oldest food and drinking establishment (opened in 1852), and has seen the likes of the outlaw Jesse James, Brooke Shields, and George Wendt walk through its doors.
In the historic Old Main district, and specializing in beef, lamb, veal, and poultry. Large wine selection and fantastic desserts.
Open scratch kitchen restaurant opened in 2015 in Dubuque's Downtown Millwork District. Seasonal rotating menu with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. Owned and operated by Chef Kevin Scharpf, a 2022 James Beard Award nominee for 'Best Chef: Midwest’.
Craft brewery and brewpub, a restaurant serving beer, burgers, sandwiches, and cocktails.
An Irish-themed bar. Formerly known as the Busted Lift and 180 Main. Live music and gorgeous bar. 20 beers on tap, including every major Irish import.
Bill themselves as "Dubuque's #1 Hotspot", owing to their Bikini Deck overlooking the Mississippi and cheap happy hour specials. Regularly host bands on the deck during the summer months.
Upscale bar north of downtown. 36-foot main bar and dancefloor. Dress code enforced on weekends, with DJ Thursday, Friday, & Saturday nights. Regularly schedules organized bar crawls.
In Dubuque's old German ward on the northside. A German-themed bar and restaurant with beers such as Spaten on tap.
Inside the Diamond Jo Casino complex. Hosts Dueling Pianos every Thursday, DJs on Fridays, and live bands every Saturday night. Occasionally hosts big-name performers such as Jordin Sparks.
Potosi, WI, Home to the National Brewery Museum and brewing several of their own beers, the restored Potosi Brewery is a restaurant and pub with original sandstone walls and Cypress wood tables made from old brewery beer vats. Beer garden located outside open during warmer months. On-site brewed beers include Good Old Potosi Beer (light ale), Pure Malt Cave Ale, Snake Hollow India Pale Ale, Holiday Lager Bock, American Porter, Potosi Czech Style Pilsner, and Scotch Ale.
Inside the restored Hotel Julien Dubuque.
Piano bar and outdoor patio. Sells wines crafted at the Stone Cliff vineyards near Dubuque. Also has a tasting room and gift shop on site.
An extended stay hotel with fully equipped kitchens in every suite.
1105 Grove Ter.
Iowa's first enclosed shopping mall. Anchors include DICK'S Sporting Goods, HomeGoods, Books-A-Million, Ulta, and JCPenney.
By car
Dubuque is connected to most of the surrounding cities by 4-lane highways.
By bus
Dubuque is 183 mi (295 km) west of Chicago via I-90 and US 20, 90 mi (145 km) southwest of Madison, Wisconsin, via US 151, 70 mi (113 km) north of the Quad Cities via US 61, and 189 mi (304 km)…
By train
There is no passenger rail service to Dubuque. The proposed Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque passenger line has been put on hold by the Illinois state government.
By bus
The City of Dubuque also operates a public bus system called The Jule (formally known as KeyLine Transit). The Jule operates 16 bus routes and a trolley route (in the summer) downtown./John F.).
By taxi
When driving around downtown Dubuque, be on the lookout for one-way streets because they are somewhat poorly marked.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Dubuque · Regional · DBQ
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